What is Hydro Jetting? A Tampa Plumber Answers

Hydro jetting is a drain-clearing method used by plumbers to remove tough clogs. It involves sending a blast of water at high pressure to break up a clog or remove objects that are obstructing the flow of water or waste in a drain line.

We know you probably have more questions, such as:

• How does hydro jetting work?
• When do I need hydro jetting?
• How much does hydro jetting cost?
• How long does hydro jetting take to remove a clog?
• Are there any risks with using a hydro jetter?

We’ll answer each of those questions below.

Need a clog cleared? We can get the job done quickly with our hydro jetting services.

A plumber begins the hydro jetting process by locating your home’s sewer cleanout. After the plumber finds it, they’ll insert a hose into the opening of the cleanout. The hose is connected to a tank of water with a machine that pressurizes the water.

When the plumber turns on the hose, the hydro jetter will blast high-pressure water (up to 5,000 psi) throughout your home’s pipes. This high-pressure water will break up clogs and scale buildup. After the hydro jetting is complete, all of the waste will then drain out of the pipes into the local sewer system.

A plumber will need to use a hydro jetter if…

• The clogged drain has extreme grease and scale buildup. A plumber can determine this with a preliminary camera inspection.
• The plumber can’t remove the clog using a rooter or drain snake. Those tools are used to clear basic clogs, and they may not work on severe ones.
• Several of your drain pipes are clogged. Hydro jetting is the ideal solution for multiple clogged drains.
• You experience recurring clogs. If other drain clearing methods haven’t successfully cleared the clog, you’ll likely need to use a hydro jetter.

The cost of hydro jetting can vary depending on the following factors:

• The location of the sewer cleanout: If your sewer cleanout is a difficult-to-reach place, the cost of the hydro jetting service will likely be greater because of added labor time.
• The cost of a preliminary camera inspection. Some plumbing contractors charge an extra fee to perform a camera inspection (we don’t).
• Length of the clogged pipe: If the clog is located in a long stretch of pipe, hydro jetting may need to run longer to clear the clog, which increases the overall cost.

Hydro jetting is an effective way to clear a clog, with most hydro jetting jobs being completed in less than a few hours.

If your home has old pipes that are in poor condition, the high-pressure water from a hydro jetter could potentially damage them.

However, before a plumber starts any hydro jetting work, they should perform a camera inspection to assess the condition of your home’s pipes and see if it will be safe to use a hydro jetter.

We give upfront pricing and honest recommendations for all plumbing projects. Visit our hydro jetting page for more information about what to expect when you hire us.